RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 BDNF protein levels are decreased in transformed lymphoblasts from lithium-responsive patients with bipolar disorder
JF Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience
JO JPN
FD Canadian Medical Association
SP 449
OP 453
VO 33
IS 5
A1 Michael Tseng
A1 Martin Alda
A1 Li Xu
A1 Xiujun Sun
A1 Jun-Feng Wang
A1 Paul Grof
A1 Gustavo Turecki
A1 Guy Rouleau
A1 L. Trevor Young
YR 2008
UL http://jpn.ca/content/33/5/449.abstract
AB Objective: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is a key factor in neuroplasticity and has been implicated in the affective disorders; studies have demonstrated elevated BDNF in patients taking lithium and other mood stabilizers. The objective of our study was to analyze BDNF in lithium-responsive patients with bipolar disorder (BD) to further understand the role of BDNF in the pathophysiology of BD.Methods: Using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, we measured transformed B lymphocytes for BDNF protein.Results: BDNF levels were 36% lower in lymphoblasts from patients with BD (n = 12), compared with matched control participants (n = 13), and 55% lower when compared with their unaffected relatives (n = 14). Lithium significantly decreased BDNF levels in patients with BD and healthy control participants, although BDNF levels remained lower (33%) in the BD group posttreatment.Conclusion: Decreased BDNF may constitute part of the pathophysiologic process of BD in a lithium-responsive subgroup of individuals with this disease. A compensatory mechanism protecting the genetically predisposed unaffected relatives from phenotypic expression of BD is suggested.